Biography for
David Tennant (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

18 April 1971, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland, UK

Birth Name

David John McDonald

Height

6' 1" (1.85 m)

Mini Biography

David Tennant was born David John McDonald on the 18th April 1971 in West Lothian, Scotland, to a father who was a Presbyterian minister. When he was about 3 or 4 years old, he decided to become an actor because of the BBC show "Doctor Who" (the series that started in 1963). He was appearing on television before he started school!

He was brought up in Bathgate and became a huge fan of the band The Proclaimers. He attended Paisley Grammar school and while there he wrote about how he wanted to become a professional actor and play the role of the Doctor in "Doctor Who."

He was first noticed by Scottish television at a Saturday youth club he attended. He trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

In 2005, his wish came true. David was cast to play the role of the Doctor in the BBC'S new series of "Doctor Who" alongside Billie Piper, after Christopher Eccleston decided to leave. After that, he became a household name.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Samtroy

Trade Mark

Very distinctive brown eyes.

Trivia

David Tennant is a respected classical actor who has performed numerous starring roles for the Royal Shakespeare Company, including Touchstone in "As You Like It," Romeo in "Romeo and Juliet," Antipholus of Syracuse in "The Comedy of Errors," and Captain Jack Absolute in "The Rivals.".

He was nominated for a 2003 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Actor of 2002 for his performance in "Lobby Hero" performed at the Donmar Warehouse and the New Ambassador's Theatres.

Attended Paisley Grammar.

Graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

Acted with the 7:84 Theatre Company, a genre-bending, ground-breaking, political Scottish Theatre Group.

Decided to be an actor at the age of three.

Cast as "Tenth Doctor" for BBC "Doctor Who" (2005) series to star alongside Billie Piper (April 2005).

While attending Paisley Grammar School, he wrote an essay on how his greatest desire was to play Doctor Who on TV.

Best friends with Louise Delamere ("No Angels" (2004)). They went to Glasgow's Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama together and shared a flat.

Chose his acting surname from Neil Tennant, singer with Pet Shop Boys. This came after reading an interview with Tennant in Smash Hits shortly after learning that he would have to change his professional name in order to join the actors' union, Equity, as there was already a registered member with his real name, David McDonald.

Nominated for Best Classical Actor Under 30, Ian Charleson Award for his theater role in "Comedy of Errors" as Antipholus of Syracuse. [2000]

Won Best Male Performance, Critics Award for Theatre in Scotland, for his role in "Look Back in Anger" as Jimmy Porter. [2005]

Won Best Actor, Theatre Management Association, for his role in "The Glass Menagerie" as Tom.

Is a big fan of film director Alfred Hitchcock.

Is the second Scots actor to be cast as the Doctor. The first was Sylvester McCoy, who was cast as the seventh Doctor in the original series. McCoy's time in the TARDIS was from 1987 to 1989.

On August 31, 2007, he turned on the illumination lights for Blackpool.

Is only the 2nd actor to play The Doctor in the whole run of the show, both old and new, to have been born in Scotland.

His heroes are John Cleese and Derek Jacobi.

Says that his favorite Doctor from the original "Doctor Who" (1963) was Peter Davison, who reprised his role as the Fifth Doctor alongside Tennant in the Children in Need special episode, "Time Crash.".

Considers Paisley as his hometown.

Father is Alexander (Sandy), a retired minister; mother Helen died of cancer in July 2007.

Has a brother, Blair, and a sister, Karen.

Favorite actress is Audrey Hepburn.

Favorite book is "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger.

Has expressed an interest to play The Riddler in the possible sequel to The Dark Knight.

Along with Elisabeth Sladen, John Leeson, Tommy Knight, Alexander Armstrong and Lachele Carl, he is one of only six actors to play the same character in both "Doctor Who" (2005) and "The Sarah Jane Adventures" (2007).

Personal Quotes

Drama school is a pretty intense experience and I think it changes who you are. I think I grew up at drama school (which was fairly useful personally as much as professionally) and I certainly got exposed to a huge range of ideas, techniques, and practices that I had no previous experience of. I wouldn't have known what I was doing as an actor if I hadn't gone.

On his early decision to become an actor: "I was very small, about 3 or 4 I think, and just wanted to be the people on telly telling these wonderful stories. Obviously the idea grew and matured with me but I can't ever remember wanting to do anything else. I've just sort of taken it for granted all my life that that was what I would do."

I do thrive on hard work.

Unlike other enduring characters such as Sherlock Holmes or Tarzan, being the Doctor allows you a certain freedom that is both very demanding and very thrilling. It allows you to make the character using elements of yourself.

I was sent good luck cards from Tom Baker and Peter Davison. They were the Doctors I grew up watching, while eating toast and drinking Tizer at home, so I was very honoured.

Where Are They Now

(April 2005) As of April 16, 2005, officially announced as the tenth actor to play the classic television character "Doctor Who," taking over from Christopher Eccleston for the second series of the BBC's Sci-Fi show revival.

(July 2007) Filming the 2007 Christmas episode of Doctor Who, "Voyage of the Damned," with Kylie Minogue in Cardiff.

(August 2008) Playing Hamlet in RSC Stratford-upon-Avon alongside Patrick Stewart

(October 2008) Announced he is leaving Doctor Who after he films four Bank Holiday specials and a Christmas special for 2009. Has already finished work on the 2008 Doctor Who Christmas special.

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